We are excited to have collaborated to support DreamWorks Animation Television's all-new Netflix original series Spirit Riding Free.

"The series follows the adventures and misadventures of three friends and their horses in the Wild West, dealing with everything from bandits to blizzards to bake sales. Viewers can expect thrilling adventure, laughs, nail-biting cliff-hangers... and a whole lot of horsey fun! The show grew out of my life-long love of horse stories, and takes place in the made-up frontier town of Miradero," says Aury Wallington, executive producer of Spirit Riding Free.

Our two exclusive decorative throw pillows feature Lucky, the main character, and her horse, Spirit, and Lucky's best friends with their horses. The stylish, comfortable pillows feature the series’ bold and vibrant artwork like no other home decor item, accenting room design tones. We believe that families will be elated to display these pillows in their living rooms or bedrooms to revel in a special touch of Spirit Riding Free.

DreamWorks Spirit Riding Free Exclusive Pillows from Lamps Plus

As part of our collaboration with DreamWorks Animation Television, Spirit Riding Free executive producer Aury Wallington and co-executive producer Jim Schumann agreed to share some special insights into the all-new series.

Aury Wallington grew up in rural Pennsylvania where she spent the majority of her childhood reading books about horses. At Tufts University, she transformed her love of reading into a passion for writing.

Wallington’s writing portfolio includes television shows such as Sex in the City, Veronica Mars, Heroes, and Gravity Falls. She also penned the New York Times best-selling novel, Saving Charlie. Her life-long fascination with horses and horse fiction found a perfect fit when she signed on to adapt the Academy Award-nominated movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron into a television series.

Aury Wallington, Executive Producer, DreamWorks Spirit Riding Free

Does the series pick-up where Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron left off?

Not exactly. Spirit Riding Free follows the adventures of a new horse named Spirit, who is the son of Rain and Spirit from the movie, as he explores the frontier with a girl named Lucky who is just as strong-willed and hard-headed as he is! While the show features the next generation of characters for the next generation of viewers, it carries forward the themes of friendship, independence, courage, and adventure that resonated so strongly in the movie.

How did you cast the series and what should viewers expect from the voice talent?

It was a long process, but once we found our three main actresses, Amber Frank, Sydney Park, and Bailey Gambertoglio, we knew we had hit on something special.The actors became as good of friends in real life as their characters are on the show! It makes for some amazing acting (and also a lot of giggling in the recording booth when they should be working!)

Are there any behind-the-scene stories that may surprise viewers?

The eagle in the JP & Sons railroad logo in the opening shots of the pilot is an homage to the eagle in the opening shots of the feature.

For my bachelorette party (I got married a month before the show went into production), we went horseback riding, and the horse I rode coincidentally was a buckskin mustang named Spirit!

Jim Schumann, Co-Executive Producer, DreamWorks Spirit Riding Free

Jim Schumann is a four-time Emmy nominated and two-time Emmy award winning animation director and producer, and is currently a Co-Executive Producer on Spirit Riding Free at DreamWorks Animation Television. He has spent the last 20+ years working in the television animation industry in both 2D and CG (computer graphic) animation on such shows as SpongeBob Square Pants, The Angry Beavers, Kung-Fu Panda Legends of Awesomeness, Tom and Jerry, Felix the Cat, Johnny Bravo, The Grimm Adventures of Billy and Mandy, The Batman, Fanboy and Chum-Chum, and Robot and Monster.

How important is lighting, or lighting effects, in animation? How is lighting conveyed in animation?

Lighting/lighting effects are essential to any animated show, but particularly for DreamWorks Spirit Riding Free because our lighting/lighting effects really help set the visual style of the show as well as being used as a "character” in the show to help accentuate mood and emotions for characters and shots. Being a CG (computer graphic) show we use digital lighting rigs on our digital sets for lighting. Also being a hybrid period show, we researched lighting fixtures and their color temperature and luminance radius to get certain looks as accurate as possible.

How does the creative process of animation work? How and where does it start? How long does the process take?

We start with a finished script and a voice track of the actor's performances. Designs are started along with the storyboard which is a visual representation of the entire episode, all of the shots, acting, posing, etc. A timed animatic (digital film of the storyboard) is then created and used by the CG animators to animate the show. CG textures, lighting, compositing is all done using the final animated edited shots. Sound effects and music are added and then mixed with dialogue to create a finished episode. The whole process from script to finished show takes 9 to11 months with revolving teams working on various episodes at the same time in order to make the schedule.

We want to thank Aury Wallington and Jim Schumann for sharing their insights into DreamWorks Animation's all-new Netflix original series Spirit Riding Free.

And thanks to Dreamworks Animation for providing images of Aury Wallington and Jim Schumann.

1. Install Shielded Lights

Dark Sky lighting solution 1 is about style.

When selecting Dark Sky outdoor lighting fixtures, make sure that the design is pointing the light toward the ground, or the style has a shield that focus the light downward. This cuts down on the light pollution shining up, minimizes glare, and helps provide better vision in the dark areas.

2. Reduce Light Waste

Dark Sky lighting solution 2 is FREE.

Reduce light waste by only lighting areas that need it. This also means turning your lights on only when needed, or setting them onto a timer or sensor to help reduce the amount of light waste.

The ultimate outdoor lighting guide incorporates three basic lighting types: Ambient, Task and Accent Lighting. Once you are familiar with the basics and how to utilize them, you will have the best lit yard on the block.

Rule 1: Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting provides an area with overall outdoor lighting. Also known as general lighting, it radiates a comfortable level of brightness without glare and allows you to see and to walk about safely. This type of lighting can be accomplished with outdoor wall lights and post lights.

Rule 2: Task Lighting

Rule 3: Accent Lighting

Accent lighting adds drama to an outdoor space by creating visual interest. It is used to highlight trees, planting areas and architectural details. This type of lighting is usually provided by spotlights.

Now you have the knowledge of the three basic types of outdoor lighting; Ambient, Task and Accent Lighting, and are sure to have the best lit yard on the block.

And I have dragged old mirrors out of abandoned buildings at demolition sales.

I have also brought home over the top in size and detail mirrors found while junking. Floor mirrors are amazing for adding to a plain wall to reflect your room. You don't need to hang a mirror up to make a beautiful statement.

This antique mirror is nearly 8' tall- and all by itself with nothing else makes a statement.

Not everything that has an old style is actually old. That French blue and gold mirror is a brand new reproduction mirror.

Finding the Perfect Mirror: Something New

Mirrors of today knock my socks off as well. And some of my favorites is a brand new reproductions.

Reproduction mirrors give you the best of both worlds. They have that style and charm that adds so much to a room, they reflect what you would like them to- and they are easy to find. No running around from tag sale to tag sale hoping to bump into one.

A perfect and classic spot for placing a mirror is above a mantel.

This reproduction mirror was a perfect choice for above the fireplace. With a reclaimed wood look- it speaks vintage.

With all the details of vintage- reproductions can satisfy your style and charm needs easily and inexpensively while looking absolutely beautiful.

Finding the Perfect Mirror: Think Outside the Box

Or more like outside. This is a new mirror that looks old that is perfectly at home outdoors on the covered patio. Don't forget those outdoor spaces when it comes to accents like mirrors or artwork. Covered porches and patios are extension of living space and deserve a sprinkling of style as well.

No matter if you love mirrors that are old or new or a mix of both- adding a mirror to a room adds an instant amount of light and sparkle. And the right mirror can do wonders for the completing the style of your space as well as reflecting beauty.

It can be a daunting task to choose the right one for your space sometimes- especially in a world of ever changing styles and designs. But I am going to break down how I choose my perfect accent chairs - based on just a couple of things. And my first tip? Stick with something that is classic for you and your style.

1. Style

Yes, of course that is the first consideration. With a very traditional cottage style home and a love of vintage, something modern just won't fit in my rooms without looking out of place. Some of my favorite styles are wood frame and French style pieces such as a classic bergere or fauteuil chair.

2. The right scale

Have you noticed that so many chairs and sofas of today are those extra deep, extra long, extra room size needed styles? While they are gorgeous and very luxurious for lounging, I need more vintage sized pieces to fit my home and style.

Think scale when it comes to your room. If you have a large room - you might be able to get away with one of those 40" deep chairs - but if not, it might look like that chair is taking up way too much real estate. Remember to consider scale when choosing and stick with what works best for your space.

3. Fabric, leather, wood, oh my.

Accent chairs are not just simple little chairs any longer. From leather to linen to brocade and tufted accent chairs - the upholstery and details make the chair. I am a huge fan of keeping things simple - and so often, I will gravitate towards linen and less fussy pattern. But I have to admit that some of those accent chairs that have pattern and color are truly accents and make an amazing statement in a room.

The best advice is to think of your overall design. Are you mostly neutral colors and simple styles - or is your room an amazing mix of pattern and color?

Choose a chair that has a fabric that accents or fits into your room seamlessly. For neutral - you can go with a pop of color or pattern - or keep it simple with linen.

For bold and beautiful - think a clean velvet for adding another round of color but without adding too much fuss.

4. Comfort

Back to scale, fabric and every other consideration - don't buy something just because it looks good- unless you just want to admire it in your room. You need to try the chair out. See how it feels when you sit and make sure that it is as functional as it is beautiful in your room.

What about you - do you have a tip for choosing the perfect accent chairs?

Choosing an ottoman or bench for your home seems like it should be simple enough, right?

But do you know how many styles, sizes, shapes and finishes those benches come in?

Benches are not just wood picnic style any longer- and ottomans - well they come in dozens of shapes and sizes and styles.

They can be accents or a large part of your overall room design. An ottoman or bench is not just a functional piece of furniture anymore - they are style statements.

And today, I am sharing 3 things to consider if you are shopping for the perfect one to add to your home.

1. Style

Of course, that goes without saying. Style is key when choosing anything for your home. But not just style - but whether you want or need something simple or you want the topper on the cake. Ottoman and benches aren't just for extra seating- they are definitely style makers for your home.

Think bold. Think unique. Think about something that makes a statement. A recently spotted ottoman at High Point Market caught my eye and ran away with my heart instantly.

Seriously gorgeous and though it is a small accent piece- it made such a statement with the style alone.

2. Size

Go big or go home may be my motto with chandeliers - but with an ottoman or bench, it has to fit the space. Have you ever walked into a room where you had to navigate around a bulky coffee table? Not ideal.

You definitely need to fit your space - especially when using an ottoman as a coffee table. Square, rectangular, round- they come in all sizes. Just pay attention to area you have available and plan accordingly to make sure that you are not crowding the walking space.

Think cozy, but with a dash of breathing room.

3. Materials

In a world of 10,000 style choices, the type of ottoman or bench is one more thing to consider. All wood, simple fabric, tufted fabric, acrylic legs, storage style, or maybe one that incorporates tufting on top and a space for books on the bottom.

The choices can be overwhelming sometimes- but no matter what color, finish, etc you decide on - one thing to always remember is to not overlook construction.

Hardwoods that are kiln dried are going to be top notch in style as well as sturdiness. From there, choose fabrics based on where you will use it. Something water resistant in a living room while you can go with something more plush and elegant in a bedroom.

Choosing a bench or ottoman for your home is as easy as thinking about those 3 things - and then going with what speaks to you. They definitely are not those average pieces any longer- and choosing the right style can make your room feel completely different.

It is no secret that I have a little crush on beautiful chandeliers. And that love is strong and covers several styles and sizes and every room.

A chandelier is like a beautiful piece of jewelry that adds the perfect finishing touch to an evening gown. It is that one thing that takes the look from beautiful to absolutely gorgeous.

But how do you know what the right chandelier is for you and your space? Is it too big? Too small? Or the wrong style all together?

To answer these questions and more, I am sharing 3 tips for choosing the perfect chandelier to make your home shine.

1. Size Matters

I tend to go big or go home when it comes to chandeliers- but I have a couple that are on the smaller size as well. And when trying to figure out if big or small or 2 or more are called for- you can use this simple guide.

Chandeliers for a Dining Room:

Your chandelier should be about 12 inches narrower than the dining table surface.

The design should also have at least 4 feet of distance from the room walls. Making sure that your chandelier 'floats' with enough breathing around it is key.

Chandeliers for a Living Room or Entryway:

For every foot of ceiling height allow 2-3 inches in chandelier height.

To find your perfect size- add the length and width of your room and convert the total to inches.

For example, a room that's 12-feet x 14-feet would require a design that's around 26-inches wide (12 plus 14 gives you the width of 26).

2. Double or nothing

Sometimes one chandelier is the perfect size above a dining table or island. But sometimes, 2 or even 3 are better than one.

If you have a long table for example- think length in lighting. You want to make sure to illuminate the center 2/3 of the table.

In our dining room, this 9' long table has two 23" chandeliers which illuminate it perfectly without feeling too heavy.

3. Style your room pretty

Whether you go with vintage inspired, modern luxe, industrial or something in between, think about the style of your space and what message you are trying to send with your chandelier choice.

Is it simple and elegant? Show stopper? Blending in and getting along? There are so many ways that your chandelier can make your room feel different- and the choice is all yours.

If your room if full of architectural interest and charm- something elegant, classic and traditional will compliment perfectly.

If it is spare and modern in design - you can add more bling to make a statement or keep it simple to keep the look.

In the small kitchen in our guest cottage, two crystal chandeliers speak vintage charm but don't take center stage- they quietly compliment the overall look. Basically, just take a moment to think about if your light is the lead or the supporting role in your room and choose accordingly.

I hope that these 3 tips help you choose your perfect chandelier and no matter why style, size or finish you are looking for- Lamps Plus has an incredible selection of chandeliers to inspire you.

What type of chandelier is your favorite? Are you a go big or go home type? Or a quiet compliment type? Or maybe somewhere in between?

Overhead lights like chandeliers or flush mounts are necessities in most spaces, and a strategically placed lamp is a helpful source of illumination. So often the wall is forgotten as a location for lighting that multitasks and it’s there that you can hang the always versatile wall lamp.

As an added bonus, rotating or swing arm lamps allow you to alter the direction of the lighting, either up and down or left to right. Some require the light to be hardwired, but many options are available as plugins so there’s no need to hire an electrician.

Bronze is a finish that will never go out of style and looks especially striking against white walls. A white drum shade paired with a shapely swing arm wall light creates alluring contrast between dark and light on a bronze swing arm wall lamp.

Brass has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years, but it should be noted that brass is just as classic as bronze. Modern shapes make the finish that much more appealing in contemporary and transitional spaces like these brass swing arm wall lights.

Formal dining rooms seem to be either be those rarely used rooms that are reserved for special occasions- or rooms you use every single day for every day dining. Or maybe yours is somewhere in between.

But no matter how often you use your formal dining room-a dining room is a perfect spot to do a little bit of simple seasonal refreshing and maybe even some refreshing with bigger impact.

Today I am sharing 3 ideas for sprucing up your dining room to get entertaining ready.

1. Add seasonal touches

Dressing your room for the holidays and entertaining involves more than a couple of seasonal touches on the dining room furniture. Think about adding a fun holiday banner or some fresh clippings or garland on the fireplace or wall.

A note: I also like to add a couple of clippings to our chandeliers as they have a nice drop below the light bulbs so it is safe to do. But- safety first. If you decide to do that make sure that your fixture is safe to do so with. Greens will dry and become a fire hazard.

2. A simple centerpiece

I love using fresh clippings for centerpieces- and when it comes to holiday dining where there are likely to be a lot of places at the table- keeping that centerpiece simple is best. And one of the things I love about using greens such as olive or eucalyptus is that they will dry very well and will look good even a few weeks down the road.

For this centerpiece- I used a layer of fresh greenery and then add a few oranges and nuts for a festive touch. If you don't have access to fresh clippings there are some very pretty faux florals available.

3. Think outside the light box

Looking for a quick and easy change that completely changes the look of the room? Think lighting. Sometimes the lighting is perfect for a space- and other times not so much.But dining room chandeliers are easy to change fortunately- and it is a quick change that you can make without spending a lot of time and expense that comes a huge renovation.

Even if you don't want to add more lighting with a second chandelier- simply changing from a ceiling light to a chandelier or even to a elegant new ceiling light can make a huge difference in the look of the room. Lighting is one thing you can do that is inexpensive but that has a huge amount of impact on style and also on how fresh and inviting your room feels.

What are your favorite tips for refreshing your dining room and getting it ready for entertaining? Leave me a comment below.

All the holiday hustle and bustle is just around the corner-and so this month I am talking all about ways to get your home ready for guests this holiday season. And it is much more than putting up your Christmas tree and having enough food in the refrigerator.

It seems that any time that guests are coming- there is a flurry of activity. Freshening the bed linens, extra mopping and cleaning and general fluffing of the house. And an area that is often last on the list to be spruced up is the guest bathroom.

I know- it is just a functional type room, but it is an important one and one that can be stylish as well. And doing a couple little things to freshen and update it can make all the difference.

Seasonal touches such as a wreath on the door or a few clippings of fresh greens add the perfect amount of holiday touch- and for an easy update that requires no demolition and rebuilding- think lighting.

Bathroom lighting is there to provide the right amount of light for makeup and illuminating the space of course, but lighting is also key in also adding a touch of your style.

Do you still have those old dated 1980’s fixtures? A quick swap with gleaming modern or new classic traditional lighting and your space will look completely different and up to date.

There are several styles and types of lighting you can choose from- and the placements depend on your bathroom set up as well. My favorite? Sconce lighting that flanks the mirrors. I like the symmetrical look they have- and sconce lights on both sides of the mirror also provide a lot of light.

We chose large vintage inspired sconce lights for our remodel recently- you can achieve a similar look by using traditional antique brass bathroom wall lights . And those 4 little light bulbs do wonders for lighting up the entire space while looking pretty and keeping the overall vintage aesthetic of the room.

In another bathroom- we chose vintage inspired silver sconces with beaded glass shades. This space has room for two sinks- and so a trio of sconces was the perfect look- and the perfect amount of light.

A bonus, the beaded shades add just the right amount of sparkle while being transparent enough to allow light to fill the room as well.

So if you have a guest bath that could use a little refresh- updating the bathroom lighting is a perfect way to update the space quickly without getting involved in the mess and expense of a full on renovation.

What is your favorite quick refresh tip for changing the look of a bathroom?